Two candidates are vying to be the next Deaf Smith County Criminal District Attorney after the retirement of incumbent Chris Strowd.

Cade Hales and Cristian Caballero are the two candidates running in the Republican primary to replace Strowd. As we previously reported, Strowd is leaving office to seek a district court bench in Hereford.

According to his Texas Bar profile, Hales is a graduate of Regent University School of Law and has a law office in Canyon. Caballero is a graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law and is presently an attorney at the Deaf Smith County District Attorney’s Office.

The Republican primary will decide the election, as no Democrats have filed.

The primary election will be held in March 2026.